Gun-loading device



H. F MCCLAIN. GUN LOADING DEVICE APPLICATION man mnza. 191a.

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GUN LOADING DEVIQE. APPLICATION FI'LEDYMAYZB. 19:8.

1,304,583.. Patented Mag 27, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T dZZ whom it may concern;

7 for loadinigl UNITED STATES PATENT onmon.

HUGH F. McCLAIN, F PROTECTION, KANSAS.

I Beit known that I, HUGH F. MQCLAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Protection, in the county of Comanche and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Gun-Loadin Device, of which the following is a speci cation.

The subject of this invention is a gun loading device intended for use with cannon and guns of large caliber in which heavy The main object of the invention is the provision of means for lifting the shell or projectile and forcing it into the breech.

I Another object of the invention is the provision of pressur fluid actuated means A still rthgi bbject of the invention is the provision of means for gripping a projectile.

The invention also contemplates generally improving the construction and enhancing theutility of loading devices.

' With the foregoing and other obj ectsin View which will appear as the description roceeds, the invention resides in the comination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it bein understood that changes in the precise em odiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made withinfthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:.

,Figure 1 isa view in side elevation of the e ce;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

. Fig.3 is a detail view partly in side ele.

v'ation and partly in section of the charge injecting mechanism;

,,Fig. 4' is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation of the mechanism for operating the grappling head;

. F'g.;5 is a snmlar view of the grappling headand its connection;

Fig.6isa detail view in longitudinal sectionaofa carriage elevating cylinder.

,Beferring to the drawings by numerals of reference: Y r -.-A supporting base is indicated by the num'eral 1, and fromeach side of this base at itsgforward end rise the blocks 2, in which are 'journaled-the' trunnions 3 of a cannon4. "Legs or links have their lower ends piv- Specification of Letters Patent.

GUN-LOADING DEVICE.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed May 28, 1918. Serial No. 237,082.

forward ends. Pistons 11 are mounted to' reciprocate in these cylinders and are provided with piston rods 12 which extend through the forward ends of the cylinders and the outer ends of which have pivotal connection with the rear legs 5. These pistons and their rods are operated to raise and lower the legs 5 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Spaced hangers 13 depend from the forward end of the frame 6 and are apertured, at their lower ends, to receive a pin 14 which serves to hingedly connect the semi-cylindrical members 15 of the gripping or grappling head. Lugs 16 are secured to the members 15 and are connected by links 17 with the outer end of a piston rod 18, the inner end of which is secured to a piston 18 which is mounted to reciprocate in a vertically disposed cylinder 19,v which cylinder is suitably supported on the frame 6. The cylinder 19 is .provided with a port at each end thereof and these ports are connected by a pipe 20 in which is interposed-the valve casing 21 of a threeway'v admission and'exhaust valve, in which casing turns a plug 21 for the purpose of admitting pressure fluid to one end and exhausting it from the other end of the cylinder 19 to actuate the piston and open or close the grappling head.

Depending from the frame 6, and to the rear of the hangers 13, are the spaced hangers 22 which serve to support a cylinder 23, which cylinder is arranged in a horizontal position and extends longitudinally of the, frame 6, to the rear of the grappling head. The cylinder 23 is provided with ports located adjacent its front and rear ends, and these ports are connected by a pipe 2 1 in which is interposed the casing 25 of a threeway admission'and exhaust valve and in this casing a plug 25 is turnable. The plug may be turned to admit-pressure fluid to one end of the cylinder and at the same time exhaust pressure'fluid from the opposite end thereof. A piston 26 is mounted to reciprocate in projectile, when the projectile is in place in the grappling head, and force the same forr to the cylinder 23 for the a piston rod 27 which extends through the forward end of the cylinder and which has mounted on its extending end: a head which is adapted to contact the rear. end of a wardly from the grappling head-when the piston is moved forwardly. V

A supply pipe29 is connected to any suitable source of pressure fluid supply, not shown, and merges into three branches, one of which, 30, is connected to the intake ports at the rear ends of the cylinders 8. In this branch pipe 30 is provided 'an ordinary'waste .valve 31, through which pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinders 8,.and which per- 7 mits escape of the fluid from the rear ends of 1 the cylinders when the supply of pressure fluid is cut off. "During the forward movepressure fluid, air trapped in the forward ends ofthe cylinders will escape'through the outlet ports 10, which are provided for that purpose.

Another branch pipe 32 leads to the valve casing 21and supplies pressure fluid to the cylinder 19 for the-purpose of actuating the grappling headto open to'receive a projectile or close to grasp the same; 7 The third branch pipe, 33, leads to the valve casing 25, throughwhich itsupplies pressure fluid purpose heretofore set forth.

rises from the base. lin such. position that,

is operated in the following manner :1

The projectile is 'placedu pon the block or rest 35and the valve 31fl turned 'to allow the 7 pressure, fluid to escapeffrom the cylinders 8,

which allows the frame 6 to lower under the action of gravity,'or thesame may be pushed down if desired; When the frame is lowered thei'members 15 lie on each side of the projectile, and air is admitted through the" valve casing 21'to the upper-end of the cylinder 19"t '0force the piston 18 downwardly and bring the members 15 together to encircle the projectile; the. projectile being sufliciently loose within the grapplinghead to permit it to 'slidetherefrom. V

When the-projectile is grasped'by' the members 15, air is turnedinto the cylinders 8, and their pistons 11 are forced forwardly, raising the frame 6. to bring'the pro jectilerinto' position to be thrust into the breech ofthe With the'parts in this position, compressed air or other pressure fluid isadmitted to the rear end of the'cyl- A'shell or projectile is shown at rand it is" supported on a suitable block 35 which" sure to the cylinders.

lower the frame.

inder 23, which will force the'head 28 forwardly to contact the projectile and thrust v the same from 7 breech of the gun.

" 'Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought by Letters Patent, is Y 7 he members 15 into the 1.111 a, device of, the 'class 'deseribedn- '7 frame; means for mounting the frame for raising and. loweringand foradvancement.

and retraction; fluid pressure mechanism for actuating. the frame; a grapple on the frame; .fluid pressure mechanism on the crating: on the .frame at the :rear of" the grapple; and fluid. p essure 'mechanismpn the frame for actuating the ram;

2. In a device ,of the class described; a frame means for mounting the frame' for;

raising and lowering and -for' advancement ment of the pistons 11, due to adm1ss1onof and retraction; fluid pressure mechanism,

for actuating the frame; a grapple on the frame for actuating the grapple; a ram op-' eratin onthe frame at the rear of: the

frame; 'fluid pressure mechanism "on the f grapp e; fluid pressure mechanism' on the" frame for actuating the ram; asingle'source' V 7 of fluid pressure supply; conduits leading 1 from said source to each of saidf'mecha nisms; and means for'controlling individu raising and lowering and advancement'and' retraction; grappling jaws pivoted .to 'the frame firstand second fluid pressureicylsubstantially at right angles to each other;

V indersycarried by the frame and disposed when the frame 6' is lowered by thelegs5 a piston operating in the first cylinder and 7 connected with the j aws aramoperating-inf the second'cylinder andcoactingwithlthe jaws; and means for supplyin fl id Pres} V 4. In a device of 'theclass clescribed,*; a

base comprising a "projectile support; a frame; a movable projectile grip on the forward end of the frame; a ramhiovablel on the frame to the -rear of the grip andilc0 operating therewith; and links connecting the frame with the basetthe links 'consti-V tuting means for disposing thegrip abovethesupport and for disposing the ramg to ther'rear of the pp t wh n the lln eare swung downwardly: and I prearwaridly' base comprisin a" projectile' supportj"a' means for disposing the gripabove the sup-f port and for disposing thelram-gto the-rear of the" support' when the links are swung 5. In a device of the'class described, a, V

' rame; a movale pro ectile grip on the forward end of theframe; a ram movable downwardly and rearwardly to lower the frame; a fluid pressure cylinder pivotedat its rear end to the base; and a piston operating in the cylinder, the piston being pivotally Connected with one link.

6. In a device of the class described, a

, frame; means for mounting the frame for ralsmg and lowering and for advancement and retraction; a cylinder mounted on the frame in a substantially vertical posltion;

a piston operating in the cylinder;l gripping jaws pivoted to the frame; and inks connecting the jaws with the piston.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame; means for mounting the frame for raismg and lowering and for advancement and retraction; a cylinder mounted on the frame in a substantially vertical position; a piston operating in the cylinder; gripping jaws pivoted to the frame; links connecting the jaws with the piston, the piston including a head operating in the cylinder; a conduit opening at its ends into the cylinder I on opposite sides of the head and provided with an exhaust and with a fluid pressure inlet; and a valve controlling the inlet and the exhaust and directing pressure selectively toward the ends of the conduit.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame; means'for mounting the frame for raising and lowering and for advancement and retraction; a cylinder mounted on the frame in a substantially vertical position;

a piston'including a head operating in the ylinder; gripping means mounted on the frame and operatively connected with the piston; a conduit opening at its ends into thecylinder on opposite sides of the head and provided with an exhaust and with a fluid the rear of the gripping means; pistons operating 1n the respective cylinders and actuating, respectively, the gripping means and the ram, the pistons including heads located in the cylinders; conduits openingat their ends into the cylinders on opposite sides of the heads, each conduit being provided with an exhaust and with a fluid pressure inlet, each conduit being supplied with a valve controlling the exhaust and the inlet and directing fluid pressure, selec tively, toward the ends of the respective conduits.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HUGH F. MOCLAIN.

Witnesses: J. N. LITTLE, LEROY B. SMITH.

flopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner ot Patents, 7 Washington, D. 0." 

